Some Thoughts On Day One Of The Draft:

Every year I go into this process thinking I’ve learned more in the past, only to go to bed and feel I know nothing about this sport. There simply no way someone that sits in his living room can predict what each one of these teams is going to do. We read articles and study scouting reports and, occasionally, we drive to a regional game, but that’s about it.


One thing about who was picked when, especially the first two kids picked by the Mets. I am in no way critical of the players picked. It’s the picking of them this early that I question. I assume the powers to be don’t try and look bad when they execute what they feel is the best player available for their team at the time they go on the clock.


As all of you know, I compile all the mock drafts from all the “experts” and average them together so you have a good idea who’s going where. I’m strictly a messenger in this process, but it’s a fair one representing everything you read out there on the net.


Here’s what I compiled as the top 10 picks and where they actually went:


1. RHP Gerrit Cole - #1


2. 3B Anthony Rendon - #6


3. OF Bubba Starling - #5


4. LHP Danny Hultzen - #2


5. RHP Dylan Bundy - #4


6. RHP Sonny Gray - #18


7. LHP Matt Purke - still undrafted


8. OF George Springer - #11


9. RHP Taylor Jungmann - #12


10. RHP Matt Barnes - #19


The first round was dominated by pitching, especially righties.


There were some early surprises, no more than the Mets at 13th with OF Brandon Nimmo. Other early picks that were, in my opinion (whatever that is worth) is 1B C.J. Cron, LHP Chris Reed, and RHP Joe Ross.


It seemed quite obvious that many of the so-called top prospects weren’t picked on the first day because teams didn’t think they could meet their money demands.


Day two still offers some damn good players… RHP Dillon Howard, John Stilson (injured), Dylan Maples, Tony Zych, and Logan Verritt… LHPs Matt Purke, Daniel Norris, Kyle Winkler, and Josh Ostich, catchers Austin Hedges and Andrew Susac… second basemen Ryan Wright and Josh Tobias, SS Nicky Delmonico and Phil Evans… third basemen Jason Esposito and Harold Martinez… and outfielders Josh Bell, Alex Dickerson, and Charles Tilson.